Sorry I totally forgot to put an intro! Basically this is a list of 10 games from the past few years that I think would make great gifts this Holiday season. These are not my ten favorite games of this generation despite the fact that I do go back to 2006. Some of these games are the best of last year, some the year before that and others are on the list because they get players ready for the follow ups that are either out now or on there way next year.
Mass Effect Xbox 360, PC $19.99, Mass Effect 2 Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 (includes 3 DLC packs), PC $19.99
Mass Effect Xbox 360, PC $19.99, Mass Effect 2 Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 (includes 3 DLC packs), PC $19.99
This epic sci-fi series is a mix between an RPG and a 3rd person shooter. It has an incredible story filled with amazing characters and worlds. The series will be coming to an end in March so this holiday would be a great time to get caught up and prepare for what is sure to be one the best games of 2012. Now I haven’t reviewed a whole lot of things on this site yet but at the moment Mass Effect 2 is the only one that has scored a 5/5. If you are looking for some gifts these are very hard to beat, especially now that their prices have dropped so much. The game involves complex moral choices and does have some sexual scenes so keep in mind that it isn’t for kids.
Resident Evil 5 Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 $19.99 PC $29.99
Now this game has gotten some mixed opinions since its release back in 2009; some think it is a solid follow up to the amazing RE4 and others think that the controls are dated and that it can’t compete with modern 3rd person shooters. Resident Evil 4 was one of my all time favourites when it came out and I believe that RE5 is even better. Now it isn’t as scary as its predecessor but it is more fun. The game done away with annoying escort missions, instead you get a useful AI partner or you can have a friend jump in and help you out either locally or through online. If you know anyone who would enjoy a slower moving, shooter where every shot counts you should get them this game. It is very graphic so try to stay around the M rating on this one.
Metal Gear Solid 4 PlayStation 3 $19.99
I never really played this series prior to this one and I never cared for stealth games either, and yet I absolutely loved MGS4. Now mind you my best friend adores this series so before playing it I had a lot of back-story explained, because without knowledge of the series players are likely to be left in the dark for most of it. They could just chalk the story up to some crazy Japanese video game stuff and accept whatever happens, but I don’t know how likely that would be. So if you know anyone with a PS3 who has played any of the previous Metal Gear Solid games and have yet to purchase this one you should pick it up for them this holiday season.
Halo: Reach Xbox 360 $29.99
Now here is a franchise that I have always adored and while in my opinion Halo: Reach isn’t the best in the series, it is still a phenomenal game. Reach tells the story of what happened before the main trilogy and while it doesn’t have the memorable characters from the rest of the series it does a good job of introducing you to a new cast of heroes. With a solid single player, a customizable Firefight mode (where you battle wave after wave of enemies), a level creator, the ability to save gameplay films and an amazing online multiplayer experience, Reach is not to be missed by anyone with an Xbox 360. Unless they are kids because there is a lot of violence and kids really shouldn’t be online unless they want to be berated with insults.
Batman: Arkham Asylum Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 $19.99, PC (bonus challenge maps) $29.99
For anyone who has ever bought a superhero game and felt ripped off because they felt the developers just slapping together a game with an iconic character in order to turn a quick buck, this shall bring great joy. This isn’t just some game that happens to have a known superhero in it this is a game where you truly feel like the developers love the licence and like you are Batman. Despite the fact that it has the voices from the animated series it isn’t meant for little kids, it is a mature and challenging Batman game (and not because of crappie controls like some Batman games) and is great for older kids and adults alike.
Gears of War: Triple Pack Xbox 360 $29.99
The Gears Triple Pack is a bit misleading because there are only two games. It comes with Gears 1&2 as well as the All Fronts Collection (an additional chapter and 4 map packs) for Gears 2. So for those that have yet to try out the Gears series this package is a great gift that will prepare them for Gears 3 which came out this September. The games are the best 3rd person shooters around with terrific single player, cooperative and competitive experiences. It is also one of the goriest games around (your primary gun has a chainsaw attached to it) so make sure to by this for the adults on your list.
Assassin’s Creed 1&2 Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC $19.99, Brotherhood Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC $39.99
Now for many the first Assassin’s Creed isn’t a must play but for me it is. I loved the first one and I think it does a much better job of bringing you into the story than AC2 or Brotherhood, so if you are thinking o getting someone into this series start them there. All three of these games are great so if they already have one of two of them you can fill in the gaps for them by getting them the one they are missing. Also it will get them caught up for the newest in the series, Revelations, which came out in November. The games not only have a lot of violence but some sexual content as well so mind the M rating.
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Game of the Year Edition Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC $19.99
Oblivion is the oldest game on this list but it is still an enjoyable experience. The real reason to get this game for someone is so they can make up their mind on Skyrim. If they end up liking Oblivion you can definitely recommend Skyrim to them or maybe get it for them next year once its price has dropped. If they don’t like Oblivion at all then you just saved them $60 that can be spent on another of the year’s biggest games. This game isn’t that bad for younger teens when judging content wise but it might be a little overwhelming with all of its features unless they are experienced players who enjoy RPGs.
Transformers: War for Cybertron Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC $29.99
This game is great for any fans of the Transformers series, especially the older ones who remember the original cartoon. The game is a lot of fun and seeks to please its grown up fans by offering a darker experience than one might expect from this series. Even though its main target is the older fans any pre-teens or teenagers who enjoy the current Transformers should also be able to find some stuff to like in it.
Heavy Rain: Director’s Cut PlayStation 3 $29.99
For those looking for a unique experience Heavy Rain is like no other game out there. Its gameplay is comprised almost solely of quick-time events and yet it engages and challenges the player in a very rewarding way. It features a great string of decisions where everything you do has consequences and eliminates gameovers by simply killing off your character from the story. Whoever you buy this for should be informed of that because it makes everything a lot more intense when you know that your character is on the line and that you won’t get a second chance. The game has a very adult story line and some nudity so this should be reserved for the mature adults in your list who can appreciate a game like this.
For all the latest updates on the blog be sure to follow me on Twitter @Aeonofdoom360 and be sure to let me know what you think in the comments section below, no sign up or registration needed.
No comments:
Post a Comment